Clint Hurdle is a good teacher. It takes two hands and two feet to list the number of hitters he’s helped revive. He’s a great communicator with the media, his accessibility and candor outweighing his unnecessary bluster.

But is he the right manager for the Rockies?

After seven years, the leash appears shorter than ever. The reservoir of goodwill from the run to the 2007 World Series is drained. He needs to win. And now wouldn’t hurt.

Ownership and the front office believe it has put together a team that should be competitive, should contend. That’s debatable, particularly when one closely examines the pitching. It’s Hurdle’s job to develop the talent he has, not complain about what’s not in the cupboard. He wisely never questions the team’s financial resources or the hand he’s been dealt.

For me, a manager’s greatest value is maximizing his bullpen and finding a way to keep everyday players fresh and happy. So it would be hard to blame Hurdle if he has been enduring some sleepless nights.

His bullpen is unpredictable, at best. He recently admitted that he’s not sure what he’s going to get when he calls down there. At least his calls haven’t gone to voice mail. In all seriousness, it’s hard to look smart as a manager when you’ve been forced to change closers twice while rotating through three different eighth-inning guys.

Let’s be honest. If Huston Street or Manuel Corpas don’t stop renting the ninth inning and fork over a down payment, it doesn’t matter who’s managing.

Where Hurdle has to be careful, in my opinion, is with his lineup. He’s a bright guy, but I wonder if he has too many chess pieces. The lack of a consistent lineup drives players crazy. Has for years. There’s time when it seems like Hurdle just can’t help himself. Get beyond Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe, and the rest of the players are wise to check the board to see who’s playing and where they’re batting.

In reality, the changes shouldn’t matter. But if I have learned one thing covering the big leagues since 1996, it’s that players are creatures of habit. They crave stability. Change drives them crazy.

That’s why I welcomed the idea of Dexter Fowler taking over as the starting center fielder last week. Not only do the Rockies have their best lineup with him in it — he’s easily the NL’s top rookie in April — but it’s one less moving part.

That leaves two decisions: whether to play Ian Stewart or Clint Barmes at second and choosing between Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs in left. Not that Hurdle cares what I think, but I would advise him to leave the rest alone and take his chances. I believe that trust will be rewarded with improved performance, if not extended job security.

Footnotes.

Welcome to stardom, Zack Greinke. Put your feet up. All the Royals starter did in April was go 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA. He strung together 43 consecutive scoreless innings, the longest streak since Orel Hershiser in 1988. Greinke credits pitching coach Bob McClure for his growth. He said McClure, the Rockies’ longtime Triple-A pitching coach, has never been wrong in anything he’s told him. Greinke has command of five pitches and the ability to work both sides of the plate. . . . Tampa Bay scored three runs or fewer 13 times in its first 22 games. But look for the pitching to come around. Manager Joe Maddon purposely held his guys back in spring training because of their playoff workload. . . . The Pirates, really? They are good. Their pitching staff is nails, responding to the statistically rooted teachings of new coach Joe Kerrigan. . . . Count Giants closer Brian Wilson among those quitting Twitter. Wilson tweeted after blowing a save, and the time of the entries suggested he was out enjoying the night life when, in fact, he was playing video games. After getting ripped by bloggers, he’s going Twitter-free.

Eye on …

1B Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres

Background: Gonzalez has replaced Vinny Castilla as Mexico’s most popular player. The former first overall pick, who was traded from the Marlins to the Rangers to the Padres, is staying put for a long time. He’s become the face of the San Diego franchise, and couldn’t be a bigger bargain if he was on the shelf at Wal-Mart. He signed a four-year, $9.5 million contract that extends through 2011 if a $5.5 million club option is exercised. Asked during an online chat about signing him to a new deal after the 2011 season, owner Jeff Moorad said, “Why wait?”

What’s up: While Albert Pujols is Big Brown in the field of National League MVP candidates, Gonzalez could give him a race. He set a Padres record with nine home runs in April. Gonzalez told me that playing winter ball and in the WBC helped accelerate his start. “I knew he was going to be one of the best players in the league,” Castilla said, recalling a prediction he made when the two played together in 2006.

Renck’s take: Watching the game with a scout the other day, he raved about Gonzalez’s ability to track the ball out of a pitcher’s hand. He does things other guys can’t, like hit mistakes out, while also maintaining a respectable average. He was the only NL West player a year ago to top 100 RBIs. The Rockies will see Gonzalez again this week after he torched them at Coors Field last week. It’s hard to say what’s more impressive with the first baseman. That he puts up big numbers in Petco Park, where flyballs go to die, or that he excels despite often being on an island in a lineup that features no other feared hitters.

Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post

At issue

Tipping pitches latest allegation against A-Rod

What: In her book “A-Rod,” to be released Monday, author Selena Roberts writes that Alex Rodriguez tipped pitches to opponents during blowouts in hopes they would reciprocate the favor.

When: This practice allegedly occurred while Rodriguez was with the Texas Rangers, where he played from 2001 to 2003.

Background: At this point, no Molotov cocktail lobbed in Rodriguez’s direction can be dismissed out of hand. He lied about taking steroids, casting him as “A-Fraud” to many fans. Roberts says Rodriguez’s steroid use now may have begun as early as high school. In my few dealings with Rodriguez, he’s wildly insecure for someone of his talent. He tries too hard to be liked, and he clearly wasn’t opposed to breaking rules for his advantage.

Renck’s take: A lot of players cheated with steroids. But no one I talked to last week had ever heard of a player tipping pitches to the other team. Because it’s A-Rod, I suggest there’s at least a kernel of truth. Part of his falling out in Texas began when he was accused of calling his own team’s pitches. So the idea that he might offer a hint to the enemy is not as far-fetched as you might think. If he did, it’s tantamount to baseball treason. As Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of the accusation, “It crosses a line of integrity that can’t be breached.” This isn’t just a PR issue for A-Rod, but a clubhouse issue. Teammates already aren’t crazy about the guy. Now, some will wonder if he’s willing to sell them out. A-Rod, have fun with that. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post

Ups and downs

THREE UP

1. Cardinals: Finished April with a plus-37 run differential, best in baseball.

Troy joined The Denver Post in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role before the 2015 season. He is a past president of the local chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America and has won more than 20 local and national writing awards since graduating from the University of Colorado journalism school with honors in 1993.

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